Scuba divers can volunteer to help clean up Lake Travis at the 15th Annual Lake Travis Underwater and Shoreline Cleanup, a community-driven event that removes trash and debris from Austin's lake, Sunday, Sept. 13. Non-divers can also help by cleaning the shoreline.

More than 1,200 volunteers participated in 2008, gathering about three tons of trash from the shores and waters of Lake Travis. The Colorado River Foundation, Keep Austin Beautiful, Travis County and the Lower Colorado River Authority are partnering to organize this event.

The goal of the event is to keep the lake clean so that divers, boaters and other visitors can enjoy Lake Travis and the Colorado River.

Scubaland Adventures, a dive shop that sells scuba gear and offers scuba training, will be organizing divers for this years clean up. Volunteers can sign up to get a wristband at any Scubaland location. This year, Scubaland will be cleaning up the area around Mansfield Dam Scuba park and boat ramp. Dive club members receive free air fills and tank rentals for the Lake Travis Underwater Cleanup while supplies last.

For more information about Scubaland's clean up initiative, contact John Lindsey at (512) 257-2000 or visit www.scubaland.com.

Benefits of the cleanup include:

• A cleaner physical environment
• Changes in attitudes and behavior toward littering
• Increased education and awareness about individual responsibility regarding the minimization of waste, recycling, reuse, litter and community improvement
• An enhanced quality of life for residents of the community

Economic benefits

• Positive awareness for your dive shop/organization and its work in the community

For more information about the clean up, visit www.keepaustinbeautiful.org/underwater.